Tolentino wants Chinese diplomats expelled over alleged election interference

Senator Francis Tolentino floated the idea of kicking Chinese diplomats out of the Philippines amid the alleged interference of China in the country’s internal affairs, including the upcoming 2025 elections, which were revealed during the recent Senate investigation.

“I look forward to seeing the day when we will be expelling some Chinese diplomats because of this incident,” the chairperson of the Senate committee on admiralty and maritime zones said. 

Tolentino, who is leading the investigation, mentioned Canada’s move in 2023 where it ordered the expulsion of ranking Chinese diplomats for their alleged move to influence the 2019 and 2021 elections, particularly against a lawmaker who was critical of China’s policy.

“These are classified documents coming from the Canadian intelligence service, they would show that [China] funded [the electoral bids] of several candidates, and it led to the expulsion of several Chinese diplomatic officers based in Canada because of this spying activity and meddling with the elections,” he said. 

“So hindi lang po ito sa atin. Nangyari sa Canada, sa Australia, at New Zealand. These are advanced countries with advanced counterintelligence equipment,” he noted.

Tolentino reiterated his call for the Department of Foreign Affairs to summon China Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian to explain their side on the allegations. 

“Let's have some self-respect. How can other countries respect us if we do not respect ourselves?” he said. 

Apart from this, Tolentino noted that China has yet to address the alleged service contract between the Chinese Embassy and Makati-based ad firm InfinitUs Marketing Solutions to push pro-Beijing narratives in social media amid the West Philippine Sea dispute. 

“What has been issued so far is a blanket statement from China's foreign ministry. But no one has come out to claim that the documents I showed are fake,” he said. 

“Ang tanong, mayroon ba kayong troll farm? Sinagot ba? Hindi. Sa inyo ba ‘yung submersible drones? Sinagot ba? Hindi… Ang sagot lang nila: ‘Hindi namin maintindihan kung ano yung sinasabi ng isang senador na ginugulo lang ang ating relasyon…dahil nalalapit na ang eleksyon,’” he added. 

Tolentino then alleged that the reported China-linked activities in the country are interconnected, including the latest seizure of “spy” equipment from a Chinese national near the Commission of Elections. 

“Lahat po nong mga nangyari na nilabas ko nung nakarang linggo - submersible drones, arrest of Chinese spies in Subic, San Antonio Village Makati, Palawan - the troll farm based in Makati, paid and organized by the Chinese Embassy, up to the recent arrest made yesterday right in front of Comelec premises in Intramuros, are all interconnected. They are part of one stream, of continuous stream of events designed to foster China’s interests in the Philippines and in the Indo-Pacific Region,” Tolentino said.

GMA News Online is trying to get relevant reactions and will post them once available.—LDF, GMA Integrated News